Youngster’s step out for charity


A group of young friends have held a fundraising walk to raise money for the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) after a relative was airlifted to hospital. The 20-strong team walked five miles from Sandersons Croft, Kirkby Thore, to the Kings Arms, Temple Sowerby and back in July. Nine children and eleven adults, from Kirkby Thore, gained sponsorship and raised more than £1,100 for GNAAS. Seven-year-old Cody Hewison came up with the idea.

A group of young friends have held a fundraising walk to raise money for the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) after a relative was airlifted to hospital.

The 20-strong team walked five miles from Sandersons Croft, Kirkby Thore, to the Kings Arms, Temple Sowerby and back in July.

Nine children and eleven adults, from Kirkby Thore, gained sponsorship and raised more than £1,100 for GNAAS.

Seven-year-old Cody Hewison came up with the idea. Cody’s mother, Leanne Barnes, who organised the walk, said: “My uncle was hit by the door of a horse trailer at Ousby in March and suffered serious neck injuries. He has only just come out of hospital and we are so grateful, the air ambulance is amazing and Cody really wanted to help.

“Everybody loved doing the walk, even though it was raining. We also had a group of toddlers who had planned to take a shorter route but carried on much longer because they simply didn’t want to stop.

“We have plans to hold a ride and drive to raise even more funds for the charity. My uncle has held the event in aid of GNAAS for the last 8 years, but he never thought he’d need the service.”

Mandy Drake, head of fundraising at GNAAS, said: “We are so pleased to hear that Leanne’s uncle is now out of hospital and we all wish him well on his recovery. We want to say a big thank you to everyone who took part in the walk and to everybody who sponsored the group. The charity needs £4m to keep our service going each year so this sum will really make a difference.”

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